House Insurance

Insurance Agency

Insurance agencies are retail stores, so to speak, for various kinds of insurance. They are staffed by agents who are licensed by their state of residence to sell the various types of products to the public.

The types of insurance that is usually sold from an insurance agency includes auto insurance, property insurance, liability insurance, life insurance, health insurance, and other supplemental coverage.

The reason that agents need to be licensed is because insurance is a heavily regulated service, and each state has the authority to issue insurance licenses, according to the type of insurance that is being sold. Agents have to take and pass tests for each type of insurance that is sold, whether it is auto, property and casualty, or life and health insurance.

Insurance agencies are unique centers of entrepreneurship, and are usually local to a community, where the owner and agents of the agency are members of that community. This serves as a positive element, as the agents know better what the local community needs in the way of coverage.

Many agencies are direct branches of a major insurance company, and they sell just that one brand of insurance for that company. Other agencies hold themselves out to be brokers, and they will be licensed with several different companies in all of the coverage areas, the thinking being that this gives the agent and the consumer more choice in coverage and pricing.

An independent agent, which would be the characterization of an agent who holds licenses with several different companies, can shop the market for his or her clients, and find the best coverage for the best price. Not every insurance company is the same and pricing can vary widely for the same type of coverage.

Pricing for insurance can vary due to the profitability of the insurance company, and that is a very good reason to have several choices from which to choose when purchasing a policy.

A knowledgeable insurance agent will have a good idea of what companies will give good coverage and a good premium price based upon experience and the type of insurance that is being purchased.

Another big factor in dealing with an independent agent is that he or she will also have a good overall knowledge of how claims are paid. If there is only one company available with which to work, you have no choice for certain coverage as far as claims. After all, you purchase insurance so that if you have an event that causes a claim, you want that claim to be paid timely and adequately.

Insurance agencies have been a very good way to establish a local presence of needed insurance availability. The local populace enjoys the personal relationship that they can form with the agents and they trust the judgment of that agent when it comes to the purchase of insurance.

Whether it be auto, property and casualty insurance, home, health or disability insurance, the best form of delivering these types of protection have been through a good insurance agency such as Zoellner's Insurance Agency in Pensacola FL.